Queensland Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie will be able to call on a full contingent of players, barring Will Genia, when the Reds open their Super Rugby season against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 16.

Provided his players make it through pre-season trials intact, McKenzie will have Wallaby captain James Horwill and five-eighth Quade Cooper ready to roll for the season opener, although Genia's knee surgery will keep him sidelined.

Cooper has been training the house down with the Reds and in the boxing ring and appears to be fully over the minor knee surgery of late last year. Horwill is running near top speed as he returns from a serious hamstring injury and is gradually integrating himself into full training.

"We had a scrum and line-out session this morning. He (Horwill) participated in that. We haven't been rushing. We're taking a very pragmatic approach to make sure everything comes online at the right time. It's been methodical and very positive," McKenzie said.

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Genia had suffered a major injury playing for the Wallabies against South Africa in September and round six had been suggested as his possible return date.

Ben Lucas and Nick Frisby are two of the leading options to fill in but McKenzie seemed hopeful his first-choice nine would be back ahead of schedule.

"I don't have a fixed date (for his return) but he has tracked very well," McKenzie said.

"His rehab has been perfect. We just have to make sure we don't have any setbacks - he will be right when he is right.

"But he has been good, possibly ahead of schedule."

Horwill would like to see some time in at least one of the pre-season trials, which begin with the Blues in Toowoomba on February 2 and the Chiefs on the Sunshine Coast a week later.

But McKenzie may yet resist the temptation to give his captain trial time and let him loose against the Brumbies to start the season proper.

Cooper, meanwhile, has returned full of beans after having his future settled with a new three-year deal and the prospect of his first fight, which will be held in Brisbane in February.

McKenzie has no issue with Cooper testing the waters in the boxing ring, saying it has only helped his confidence and overall conditioning.

"There is no doubt if you're going to put yourself out there in front of a big TV audience and a crowd and put yourself on display, one-on-one, you've got to have some level of confidence," he said.

"You can't help but think he's getting some benefit from a confidence point of view, particularly if you win the fight."